Microsoft makes Windows 8.1 mouse-friendly

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Since its release nearly two years ago, Windows 8 has been a work in progress. Microsoft's latest update will get it closer to a finished state.

According to Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500), the company's goal with its latest update is to further blur the line between the legacy desktop mode, and the "Modern" tile-based interface.

At its annual Build developers conference in San Francisco, Microsoft said many of the changes to Windows 8.1 will address that issue directly -- a problem had has contributed to slumping Windows sales. (Click here to follow our Microsoft Build live blog).

Windows will detect when it is running on a laptop or desktop -- as opposed to a tablet -- and automatically navigate to desktop mode when unlocking the computer. Tablets will still unlock into the tile-based Start screen, however.

When using Modern apps with a mouse and keyboard, there will be a desktop-style title bar that appears at the top of the screen, allowing users to quickly minimize or exit an app.

The taskbar, a staple of the desktop user interface in Windows, will now be accessible from anywhere in the operating system, including the Start screen. When users mouse all the way down to the bottom of the Start screen or a Modern app, the taskbar will float up from the bottom with all their favorite pinned apps.

If you open a Modern app from the desktop mode, it will open the app in the typical full screen mode and behave like a Modern app. But when you close or minimize the app, it will take you back to the desktop.

Related: Meet Cortana, Microsoft's Siri

Modern apps will also be able to be pinned to the taskbar, which should theoretically make it quicker and easier for people who primarily operate out of the desktop interface to access those newer apps.

Microsoft also made a few tweaks to the Start screen and Modern apps meant to help both the mouse and keyboard users -- and also those new to Windows 8.

When someone right clicks on the Start screen, the secondary context menu will more closely resemble what you'd get on the desktop, which adds a layer of familiarity. When new apps are installed, the Start screen will alert how many new apps are waiting for users in the second layers of the menu, in case they weren't aware that the shortcuts were lurking below. And the search and power (restart and shut down) buttons will be more readily accessible from the main Start screen, for anyone unaware of how Microsoft's "charms" work (they're hidden on the right side of the screen.

Related: 5 things we want for Windows 9

There's also a bonus for those using tablets or small hard drives: The Windows 8.1 update will apparently shrink the storage space for the operating system down by 60%, which means more usable drive space.

The update to Windows 8.1 is not as big or major as the Windows 8.1 release was last year, but there are enough refinements here to keep inching it closer to being a true operating system for both tablets and desktops.

One frequently requested feature -- the return of the Start menu button -- isn't part of the new Windows 8.1 release. But it is coming back...some day. Microsoft said it is planning a future update that will bring back a more traditional Start Menu features, as well as the ability to run Modern apps in a window on the desktop.

The Windows 8.1 update will be available as a free download via Windows Update and the Windows Store starting on April 8.

One Windows: Another big initiative for Microsoft is unifying its PC, mobile, Xbox and Kinect platforms Windows Phone and Windows will remain separate platforms, but moving forward, they will be able to run the same Modern-style apps.

The biggest benefit of this shift is clearly for app developers, who won't have to spend resources developing two completely different apps. But there's also consumer benefit: Since these new cross-platform apps will come in one universal package, users can purchase an app once and install across all their Windows devices. Furthermore, any in-app purchases will also be saved across multiple devices.

As more developers shift from making PC apps to these new, cross-platform Modern apps, it's easy to imagine a day in the near future when you could dock a smartphone to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard and get a near-PC experience.

First Published: April 2, 2014: 12:56 PM ET

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Meet Cortana, Microsoft's Siri

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Cortana is part of Microsoft's (MSFT, Fortune 500) new Windows Phone 8.1 software, the mobile platform's first major update in 18 months. The "personal digital assistant," has the ability to search the Internet, set up alarms, shift calendar appointments, find restaurants, send messages, place calls and more. Microsoft unveiled the update at its Build developers conference in San Francisco on Wednesday. (Click here to follow our Microsoft Build live blog).

Interacting with Cortana is very similar to using Apple's (AAPL, Fortune 500) Siri. Push an on screen button, ask a question in a conversational manner, and Cortana will go to work.

Like Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) Now, Cortana also has the ability to tap into apps and the phone's core services to deliver you contextual information. It can offer the weather where you're located, deliver favorite sports scores, or scan email and provide updates on a flight status or package delivery.

Related: Microsoft makes Windows 8.1 more mouse-friendly

Cortana also has the ability to figure out what your habits are (when you wake up, when you're at work, what you frequently search for), and use that information to predict your next move.

Similar as it may be to Siri and Google Now, Cortana isn't a straight clone either. Unlike the other two services, Microsoft will not only allow third-party apps to utilize Cortana's service, either by controlling apps via voice or fetching data for predictive search.

But Cortana has one feature that its rivals don't: Cortana can actually push the results of its searches over to other apps.

One such example was using the Bing health tracker app. In a demonstration at Build, Joe Belfiore, Microsoft's Windows Phone design chief, used Cortana to search for the number of calories in a banana. When the results came back, he was presented with option to add the banana to Bing's health tracker as something he ate.

Cortana wasn't the only new aspect of Windows Phone 8.1. Microsoft's mobile OS finally (finally!) has a notification drawer called Action Center, which collects text messages, emails, calls and updates from social networks and other apps. It also has quick toggles for things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The visual look of the lock screen and home screen have also been updated, and Microsoft is planning to allow developers to create custom experiences for the lock screen. For instance, the lock screen could one day be entirely dedicated to Twitter (TWTR), or an interface for using Spotify -- without having to unlock the phone.

Other tweaks and improvements include an updated calendar app, and power saving enhancements, including a low-power mode for Wi-Fi when its not in use.

Microsoft has big plans for mobile in the future. CEO Satya Nadella said earlier this week that the company expects to close its deal for Nokia's (NOK) phone business by the end of the month.

First Published: April 2, 2014: 1:41 PM ET

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Tesla stock climbs higher after NJ ban appeal

Click the map to see where in the U.S. you can buy a Tesla.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The appeal, filed in New Jersey Superior Court last week, seeks to overturn the state Motor Vehicle Commission's decision made on March 11 to enforce the ban, according to court documents provided by Tesla.

Tesla (TSLA) shares ended the day about 6% higher.

The electric car maker wants to sell its vehicles directly to customers instead of going through franchised dealerships, which violates the law in some states. Tesla has been selling cars at its two company-owned stores in New Jersey for 18 months but must halt those sales by April 15 due to the commission's March decision.

There are also two pieces of legislation in the works that would keep Tesla's New Jersey stores selling cars. One proposal would allow direct sales of so-called "zero-emmission vehicles," including Teslas. The other would permanently exempt electric car makers from dealership laws. Legislators in Arizona are also pushing a bill that would give Tesla the green light to directly sell its cars to customers there, too.

Just last week, Tesla reached a deal with the New York Automobile Dealers Association that allows it to continue directly selling cars in New York City and surrounding suburbs.

First Published: April 2, 2014: 2:42 PM ET

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Michael Strahan on verge of joining 'Good Morning America'

Former NFL star Michael Strahan is already half of "Live with Kelly and Michael," which airs right after "Good Morning America."

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Strahan, the former New York Giants defensive end turned media star, won't be replacing any individual.

Instead, he'll be an addition to the top-rated show, popping up in various segments starting at 7 a.m. before shuttling one mile north to the talk show he already co-hosts at 9 a.m. with Kelly Ripa, "Live with Kelly and Michael."

The ABC News executives who oversee "GMA" have been holding talks with Strahan for months.

Strahan's role could be announced later this week, the people said. They insisted on anonymity because the news had not been made public by ABC yet.

Related: How things got ugly between ABC and Josh Elliott

Assuming the deal is announced, Strahan will inject some metaphoric testosterone into "GMA," which now has one man at the anchor desk, George Stephanopoulos, and four women.

Earlier this week "GMA" abruptly bid adieu to the show's news anchor, Josh Elliott, who is joining ABC's arch-rival NBC, initially as a host and contributor at NBC Sports. That network has scheduled a press announcement, presumably about Elliott, for Wednesday afternoon.

The other man previously on "GMA," Sam Champion, exited last winter and now hosts a three-hour morning program on The Weather Channel.

By adding Strahan, even in a part-time role, "GMA" will regain some of what it is perceived to have lost. Elliott and Strahan both have athletic backgrounds and wide appeal among the women who make up the key demographic for network morning shows.

Related: ABC's Josh Elliott leaving 'Good Morning America' for NBC Sports

Ben Sherwood, the president of ABC News, hinted that he would add another person to "GMA" when he announced Elliott's departure and his replacement in the news anchor role, Amy Robach. "In the days ahead, there will be more good news on the show, so stay tuned," Sherwood wrote.

The arrangement will also bring two Disney-owned properties, "GMA" and "Live with Kelly and Michael," closer together. "Live" is produced by ABC's local station in New York and syndicated by Disney's domestic distribution unit.

An ABC News spokesman declined to comment.

First Published: April 1, 2014: 7:52 PM ET

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No 401(k)? You've got options

Are you on track for retirement?

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

As one of the millions of workers who does not have access to a workplace 401(k) -- or the added perk of an employer match -- the responsibility for saving for retirement rests squarely on your shoulders.

The good news is that you have several options. And the earlier you start, the longer your savings has to grow. Even small sums set aside now can grow into significant savings

For example, let's say you invest only $100 a month for the next 40 years. With an average annual return of 6%, that modest monthly contribution would grow into nearly $200,000 in four decades.

"So just getting in that habit can really set the stage for a solid financial picture." said Sophia Bera, a Minneapolis-based certified financial planner who specializes in working with Millennial clients across the country.

Just be sure you have at least three to six months of easily accessible savings set aside for an emergency before you start investing. Once you do, here are a few options to consider that can help you get more bang for your buck:

Traditional IRA: Opening a traditional Individual Retirement Account allows you to invest your savings while realizing some sizable tax breaks.

Under federal tax rules, you can contribute up to $5,500 a year to an IRA. If you're single and don't have a workplace plan, you can deduct your entire IRA contribution, which could result in more than $1,000 in tax savings.

Related: 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k): Which one's right for you?

Instead of paying the taxes now, you'll pay them when you withdraw your money during retirement. That's great -- as long as you don't expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you retire. If you think you will be, a traditional IRA may not be the best choice, Bera said.

IRAs also have some limitations: If you tap into the money before you turn 59 1/2, you will be hit with income taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. And by age 70 1/2, you will be forced to make withdrawals, and pay the accompanying taxes.

Roth IRA: For savers who are in a lower tax bracket and can do without the immediate tax savings, a Roth IRA may be a better option, said Wendy Weaver, a Bethesda, Md.-based certified financial planner and portfolio manager at FBB Capital.

With a Roth, you contribute after-tax dollars, but don't pay any taxes on withdrawals during retirement. The accounts are ideal for young workers since contributions can grow for decades tax-free, helping you to avoid a big tax hit come retirement.

The contribution limit is the same as a traditional IRA ($5,500) as long as you don''t exceed income thresholds ($114,000 for single filers and $181,000 for married couples).

Some other pluses: unlike a traditional IRA, you can withdraw your contributions at anytime without any taxes or penalties. However, if you withdraw any investment earnings on those contributions, you will get hit with taxes and the 10% penalty.

Special provisions in federal law allow you to use the earnings from your Roth or tap a traditional IRA without penalty for education expenses or for a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000). You'll still have to pay income taxes though.

Related: What you need to know about Obama's 'myRA' retirement accounts

If you want to balance out your tax hits between now and retirement, you can split your contributions among a Roth and traditional account, said Weaver. "When it's time to make withdrawals, you have different buckets of money that have different tax treatments," she said.

Brokerage account: Still have extra cash to save after you max out your IRA contributions? Brokerage accounts offer a flexible place to invest after-tax dollars, Bera said. Discount brokerage firms like Charles Schwab or TD Ameritrade, for example, allow you to invest in a variety of low-cost mutual funds.

And since you're using after tax-dollars, brokerage savings can be used for non-retirement purposes as well, such as a down payment on a home. But remember, any earnings you make on your investments will be subject to capital gains tax when you sell them.

MyRA: Should investing in stocks on your own make you a little uneasy, President Obama recently announced the creation of a new "myRA" savings account aimed at workers without workplace retirement benefits.

The accounts, which will be offered through a pilot program later this year, won't lose money since they will invest in government bonds. But they will also get paltry returns of around 2% to 3%, which will likely barely outpace inflation.

First Published: April 1, 2014: 7:39 PM ET

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America's most sprawling cities

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Residents in more sprawling cities were likely to have fewer economic opportunities, be less healthy and have shorter life spans compared to people in more compact areas, according to a report released Wednesday by Smart Growth America.

For example, the more compact a city, the greater the chances that a child born in poverty will become rich. Similarly, the report found a three-year difference in life expectancy between residents in the most sprawling parts of the country verses the most compact.

"How we develop has a huge connection to how healthy we are in our communities," said Ilana Preuss, Smart Growth's chief of staff. However, she stressed that just because sprawl is related to negative social conditions, it does not necessarily cause them.

Related: Where the middle class thrives

To calculate sprawl, the organization, which promotes reinvestment in existing cities, looked at four things:

-- The density of houses and jobs

-- The mix of residential and commercial buildings (the greater the mix, the better)

-- The concentration of residential and commercial developments in downtown or other "activity" areas, like a waterfront

-- The "accessibility" of streets, including the length of blocks (the shorter the better, because it means more cross walks) and the number of four-way intersections (the more the better because it means greater street connectivity)

The researchers then cross-referenced these data points with data on economic mobility, life expectancy and other similar metrics to reach their conclusions. Most of the data came from the Census Department.

On a conference call discussing the report, researchers noted that cheap land in some places encourages sprawl. Also, many cities that fared well on the list, like San Francisco and New York, are bound by water or mountains, and thus have a hard time expanding outward.

Other cities like Los Angeles and Trenton, N.J., had policies that encourage denser development or more walkability through zoning or other incentives for developers.

"We need to look in great detail in how we're making development decisions," said Preuss. "We're very much in control of these things."

The study looked at 221 metropolitan areas with a population of at least 200,000 people. The research was done in conjunction with the University of Utah's Metropolitan Research Center and prepared for the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health and the Ford Foundation. It was an update to numbers originally published in 2002.

While housing costs tend to be higher in more compact areas, transportation costs tend to be lower. When factored together, it can actually be relatively cheaper to live in a more compact city.

For example, an average household in sprawling Tampa, Fla., spends 56% of its budget on housing and transportation, while an average household in more compact Seattle spends only 48% of its budget on the same items, the report said.

First Published: April 2, 2014: 12:15 AM ET

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Worries persist over China's factories

China's factories are expected to continue down a rocky road.

HONG KONG (CNNMoney)

The government's official purchasing managers' index hit 50.3 in March, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, a slight improvement from 50.2 the previous month. Any number over 50 represents an acceleration in the manufacturing sector.

But analysts say the sector has not yet emerged from its recent slide.

A separate survey conducted by London-based bank HSBC showed manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.0 in March, the third consecutive monthly decline.

Most of the time, both surveys deliver results that indicate factory activity is either picking up speed or decelerating. But the results sometimes diverge, as is the case with the March data.

Part of the discrepancy can be explained because the official government gauge is heavily weighted toward large enterprises, while the HSBC survey taps a smaller sample size and places greater emphasis on smaller firms. The two surveys also use different methods to perform seasonal adjustments -- a way to smooth data and make it comparable from year to year.

Related story: Risks in focus as China's economy slows

Even though the two surveys posted different results for March, economists agree that China's manufacturing activity is indeed depressed, and there are few signs of improvement in the near-term.

March is the first month of the year that isn't adversely impacted by the lunar new year holiday, a quirk that usually produces stronger results.

"The official PMI has risen in March every year since it was first published in 2005, with last month's rise the smallest on record," said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics. "As a result, today's reading still points to weakness in the sector .... We are not expecting a significant improvement in manufacturing activity going forward."

Poor factory activity is one indicator that the overall health of the economy may also be suffering. Beijing has set a 7.5% economic growth target for the year, and economists now expect the government will adopt stimulus measures to boost the economy.

"We expect Beijing to fine-tune policy sooner rather than later to stabilize growth," said HSBC economist Hongbin Qu.

Stock markets in China reacted favorably after the manufacturing data was released, with the Shanghai Composite Index advancing about 0.4% and the Shenzhen Composite up 1.1%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 0.9% in morning trading on Tuesday.

First Published: March 31, 2014: 11:41 PM ET

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Chinese tourists boost U.S. businesses

From hotels to tour operators, U.S. businesses are looking to cash in on a surge of Chinese tourists.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Later, at least 1,600 trekked to the Ranch at Ucross, some 200 miles to the east, where they feasted on burgers made from said beast, baked beans and biscuits. Following lunch, they were treated to a demonstration of rodeo-style riding by 14-year-old Katie Wilhelm.

"She takes off with that big American flag in her stirrup, and they go crazy," said ranch owner Judie Blair. "All the political issues between the two countries just evaporate."

Blair is one of a growing number of U.S. business owners looking to capitalize on the surge in Chinese tourism to the United States.

Spurred by increasing urbanization, rising levels of disposable income and relaxed travel restrictions, Chinese visitors to the United States jumped from under 400,000 in 2007 to almost 1.5 million in 2012, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The Chinese spend more traveling than any other nation: In 2012, they spent almost $9 billion in the United States.

Blair hosted over 80 buses of Chinese tourists at the three hotels she owns in Cody, Wyo., last year. It's a small but rapidly growing part of her family-run business, Blair Hotels, which also includes the ranch. This year, she's expecting 160 buses, and over 200 are already booked for 2015. The increase in Chinese tour groups has helped offset losses from other Asian countries.

Cody (founded by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody) offers easy access to Yellowstone -- which is hugely popular with Chinese tourists thanks to an Chinese television program on U.S. National Parks, said Blair.

Related: Rich Chinese overwhelm U.S. visa program

For the last five years, she's been attending tourism trade shows to meet with operators of Chinese tours and tout her properties and the local activities. Other than translate a few brochures and a local promotional video into Mandarin, she said she doesn't have to do much to cater to the Chinese crowd. She used to serve a classic Chinese breakfast -- a kind of rice porridge known as congee -- but she said her Chinese guests clamored for bacon and eggs.

"They ooh and aah over the little packs of jelly," she said. "They don't want to be treated like Chinese. They want the full American experience."

At the ranch -- three hours east of Cody -- Chinese tourists stop for lunch on their way from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore -- part of a popular bus loop that starts in Denver or Salt Lake City and runs through parts of the Rockies. Blair hopes the Chinese tour groups will soon start spending the night at the ranch, which is a more upscale property.

Not surprisingly, other popular U.S. destinations include Los Angeles, New York City, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Niagara Falls, said Nick Hentschel, head of business development at AmericanTours International.

Hentschel's company is also trying to tap the Chinese tourism market, and Chinese patrons now make up nearly 20% of the tour operator's business.

The company is partnering with big Chinese-based tour operators to increase its businesses, and offers cross-country tour packages popular with Chinese customers.

Shopping is the number one activity Chinese nationals enjoy in the United States, according to the Commerce Department.

It's so popular in Los Angeles that some stores on fancy Rodeo Drive now get 60% of their business from Chinese customers, said Karissa Fowler, a spokeswoman for the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau. Some stores have even started accepting UnionPay, a credit card popular in China.

In addition to the touristy things, what the Chinese like most about coming to America is seeing the everyday stuff, said Hentschel. His company arranges visits to places like grocery stores or the homes of company executives. The Chinese, he said, love to see how Americans live.

What they complain about the most: The smoking bans.

First Published: April 1, 2014: 1:46 AM ET

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Ford boosts CEO pay 11% to $23.2 million

Ford CEO Alan Mulally is credited with turning the company around.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Mulally was paid $23.2 million in 2013, up from about $21 million the previous year, Ford (F, Fortune 500) said in a regulatory filing.

For 2013, the automaker's earnings rose 26% to $7.2 billion. The company also shared its strong performance with its hourly factory workers with a record profit-sharing bonus of about $8,800 each.

Mulally became Ford's CEO in 2006 and is credited with turning the automaker around, allowing it to avoid the bankruptcy and federal bailout that rivals General Motors and Chrysler Group required during the recession.

Mulally is also highly regarded in the corporate world and rumors circulated earlier this year that he would be tapped by Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) to replace retiring CEO Steve Balmer. But Mulally put those rumors to bed in January and said he would stay with Ford at least through 2014.

Ford is paying Mulally more than what GM (GM, Fortune 500) paid former CEO Dan Akerson in 2013. Akerson retired in January and was replaced by Mary Barra, whose pay package totals $14.4 million.

Mulally's base salary remains the same at $2 million. His raise comes from a bigger bonus and increase in stock awards.

First Published: March 28, 2014: 4:45 PM ET

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S&P downgrades Target for data breach

Last year's data breach keeps hurting Target. S&P downgraded it one notch.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The breach compromised credit card numbers and personal information of tens of millions of customers during the 2013 holiday season. Target (TGT, Fortune 500) has said the hack cost the company as much as $61 million in the final months of 2013.

S&P expects the breach to have a "somewhat lingering effect" on traffic at the retailer's stores through at least August of this year. Sales slowed in the most recent quarter, which ended Feb. 1.

Target recently said its ongoing investigation of the breach could turn up "additional information that was accessed or stolen."

But the agency also said Target's outlook is stable. Although the retailer lost $723 million in Canada last year, S&P expects those losses to narrow in 2014. The agency also considers costs due to the data breach to be "significant but manageable."

First Published: March 28, 2014: 5:22 PM ET

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